* Iranian citizens living aboard are allowed to vote in the election. The polling stations in Los Angeles were still open when Ahmadinejad was declared the winner.

* With the paper balloting system in place, it's highly doubtful that all the ballots in the country were gathered up and hand-counted within the space of a day. Ballot boxes are being trashed and burned.

* Protests still ongoing. Still no word from anyone I know in Tehran.

My mom doubts that this is going to lead to any real change, but we're being optimistic nonetheless. It's extremely hard to rally groups of people against the government. Known leaders are arrested, and children are more or less taught to be spies in school. "If you hear Mommy/Daddy say anything like this, you should report it" etc.

It's extremely hard to rally groups of people against the government. Known leaders are arrested, and children are more or less taught to be spies in school. "If you hear Mommy/Daddy say anything like this, you should report it" etc.

Realizing the parallels between this and Nazi Germany just made my stomach turn.